plate no. 1916

Portrait of a lady

oilRealismportraitportraitwomanhatfeatherclothingbird

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering of textures like fur and fabric. Students will also learn to create depth using value and color temperature changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, hat, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color temperature.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate placement and shape.
step 06
Render the texture of the hat and feathers, using a combination of blending and dry brush techniques.
step 07
Paint the clothing and accessories, including the lace collar and brooch.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark background and shadows.

techniques